Window sash operating mechanism



Sept. 23, 1941.,Y F. J. Moss 2,256,905

WINDOW S-ASH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. l5. 1959 INVENTOR.

Hw/M/ M055 .a f BY j 7F ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1941 iii' i" I` orric This invention relates to window structures of the type wherein is employed vertical slidable sash that are hung in window frames, and the primary object of thisinvention is the provision of means for operating the sash without the employment of the conventional weights, cords, springs, pulleys, and handles.

One of the important aims of the instant invention is the provision of window sash operating mechanism wherein is included a specially formed rack floatingly mounted between the vertically movable sash and a portion of the window frame so as to constitute a hanger for the associated sash, lifting force to which is applied against the bottom railat a point adjacent to the Vvertical center, to the end that tendency to bind is overcome.

Ayet further object of this invention is the provision of window sash operating mechanism which may be associated with conventional types of vertically slidable window sash, and the frames therefor, the parts of the mechanism being dis# posed so that a single operating crank may be manipulated to either raise or lower the two window sashes.

Still further objects of the invention are: to provide sash operating mechanism that has a pair of overlapping L-shaped racks, respectively movable by a single pinion which is selectively brought into engagement with one or the other of the racks, by manual manipulation of an operating crank, a portion of which is disposed exvteriorly of the window frame; to provide means for mounting the pinion of the sash on operating mechanism upon the window frame so that all of the working parts associated therewith may be quickly replaced; and to provide a window frame with a specially formed panel through which the operating parts of the mechanism including the rack-engaging pinion, may be withdrawn without dismantling any part of the win- Y dow structure.

portion of the sash operating mechanism taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailedl face thereof from end to end.

Front and back stops 22 and 24 respectively are mounted upon jamb IlfI` as is the dividing strip 25. Front and back panels 28 and 30 respectively, combine with jamb I4 in presenting a compartment within thepwindow frame I0 for the reception of parts hereinafter more fully described.

.Each vertically slidable sash I2 has an upper rail 32, a lower rail 34, wherein a longitudinal groove 36 is milled, and side rails 38. 'Ihese sashes I2 always have portions thereof in over# lapping relation and each is provided with an anti-friction roller at one corner formed by the meeting oi upper rai1 32 and one side rail 38. This roller lll] is in 'opposed relation as regards the position of L-shaped rack 42 and is specially mounted so that adjustment may occur without the use of special tools.

A notch 44 is formed inwardly from the top edge of upper rail 32 and a downwardly and outwardly inclined hoor 46 is created to receive a similarly inclined face of bracket 48 wherein slot 5d is formed. The outer or thicker end of bracket llt is biurcated to receive roller 40 and the transverse axle 52 rotatably carries roller 40.

A screw 5d is passed downwardly through slot 55 and into upper rail 32. A guard plate 55 through which screw 54 passes, covers slot 50 and presents a smooth upperv surface. Tightening screw 54serves to project roller Ml outwardly against inner face 58 of adjacent jamb I4 and theoutermost point on roller 40 extends beyond the vertical edge of side rail 38 so that a narrow spacer is afforded between face 58 and side rail 33. This roller and its associated parts reduce the friction between jamb I4 and sash I2 to a mllllmllm. 4

Each sash I2'is provided with an L-shaped rack 42, one leg of which extends along side rail 38 of sash I2 as the other leg 68 thereof rests in groove 36, formed inwardly from the bottom edge of lower rail 34.

The leg of rack 42 which extends along side rail 38 is provided with teeth 62 that lie in groove 28 of jamb I4, as regards lower sash I2. The free end of leg 68 is offset as at 64 so that the zone of contact between normally horizontal leg 60 of rack '42, is tovone side of the vertical center of sash I2. When upward force is exerted at or to one side of the vertical center of either sash I2, upward movement is imparted thereto without binding or twisting.

The vertical legs of L-shaped racks Y42, like sashes I2 with which they are associated, have portions thereof always in overlapping relation, and when sashes I2 are closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the overlapped portions of the vertical toothed legs of rack 42, are reduced to a minimum and the overlap Vis 'half-way ibetween the upper and lower edges of the opening formed by the window -frame I0.

A bearing frame 66 rotatably Vcarrying shaft 68 is mounted upon the back of jamb I4 so that pinion 'I8 mounted thereon, projects inwardly through window I6 a Vsulcient amount to be Y brought intomesh with teeth 62 .of either rack 42.

r'I-he position of pinion 18, ,illustrated in Figs. and 6, is a neutral one andthe longitudinal movement of shaft 68 in one direction will cause pinion 18 to engage the rack associated with the upper sash I2, for example, while a movement of shaft and pinionl and 1 Brespectively, in the other direction, will cause ameshing with the teeth of rack 42 associated with lower sash I2. After so positioning and interengaging the desired rack with pinion "I0, crank .12 is manually operated to rotate shaft 68 in the desired direction to raise or lower sashes I2.

'A pair of -dogs 'I4 mounted :on frame 66 in the path of travel of pinion 10, are moved Yout of engagement with teeth 62 of the racks 42 when pinion I8 reaches a position .where its teeth will be infmeshwith'one-of-the racks.` `lnother words, dogs I4 are so formed as :to be engaged by rpinion 10 as it moves towards vengagement with either one "of .the racks. When kpinion -10 is in engagement y.with a rack, the dog I4 associated therewith, iis `withdrawn therefrom. Obviously, dogs :'I`4'become means lfor locking rack 42 when pinion il!) isznot in engagement therewith.

yA spring 'I6 yieldably retains .dogs 'I4 in the positions shown in Fig. 5.

.Racks 42 `are ynot directly-attached to sashes I2. When Ipinion fl 0 is -in engagement with one of Athe racks there fis sometimes a tendency to force fthe rackinwardly against =the edge of side `rail A38 which may cause pinion 'I0 to lift out -of engagement with teeth 62. Each sash I2 is Aprovided with a guide vchannel 4I8 that extends the 'entire length of side rail 38. This guide .channel I'Sslidably grips one edge-of guide plate 88, which need be but a relatively short .member -Each sash l2 is so equipped with a amount.

.Frontpanel `28 oi the window frame 'I0 lis provided with an opening 82 which is large enough to permit the removal of frame 66 and its associated parts 68, 'I8 and '14.

An escutcheon 84 removably fastened to the outer face of panel 28 normally covers opening 82. Shaft 68 passes outwardly through the escutcheon so that crank I2 may be positioned.

When it is desired to replace, for example, pinion l), it is merely necessary to remove screws 86, four of which are provided in such places as t-o permit their removal without disturbing any of the remaining parts of the operating mechanism, the sashes I2 or the frame I8.

A screw 88 carried by and near one end of lower rail 34 extends through a hole in leg 60 of L-shaped rack 42. When sash I2 is being lowered, the action of gravity will normally draw the same to the closed position as pinion 'I0 permits rack 42 to drop. If there is a slight retarding force present, leg 60 will move downwardly against the head of screw 88 with sufficient pressure to insure that sash I2 will drop under the control of Vthe operator.

The operation of the mechanism has been made apparent to one skilled in the art, during the course of the foregoing description, setting down one embodiment of the invention. Obviously parts of different form than those illustrated may be used to establish the combination and results desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a window sash slidably mounted in a frame for vertical movement, of an L-shaped rack disposed between the sash and said frame; and a pinion rotatably carried by the frame in engagement with said rack, one leg of said L-shaped rack being positioned vhorizontally along the bottom of the lower rail of the window sash, the other leg of said rack being positioned vertically along one side `rail of the sash, the saidone leg of the L-shaped rack being laterally offset at the free end thereof for normal engagement with the bottom of said lower rail adjacent to the mid-point between the ends of the latter.

.2. The combination with a window sash slid- .ably `mounted in a frame for vertical movement, of Yan L-shaped rack disposed between the sash and said frame; and a pinion rotatably carried by the frame in engagement with said rack, one leg of said L-shaped rack being positioned horizontally along the bottom of the lower rail of the window sash, the other leg of said rack being positioned vertically along one side rail of the sash,

the said one leg of the L-shaped rack being offset for ynormal engagement with the bottom of said lower rail at the free end of said leg, said lower rail'being provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the one leg, said lower rail of the window sash being provided with an element for engaging the horizontally positioned leg of 'the L- shaped rack when the pinion is rotated to move the rack downwardly.

3. The combination with a window sash slidably mounted in a frame for vertical movement, of an L-shaped rack disposed between the sash and said frame; and a pinion rotatably carried by the frame in engagement with said rack, one leg of said L-shaped rack being positioned 'horizontally along the bottom of the lower rail of the window sash, the other leg of said rack being positioned vertically along one side rail of the sash, the said one leg of the L-shaped rack-being oiset `for normal engagement with `the bottom of said'lower rail at the free end of said leg, said lower rail being provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the one leg, said lower rail of the window sash being provided with an element for engaging .the horizontally positioned leg of the L-'shaped rack when the pinion is rotated to move the rack downwardly, said element being adjacent to one vertical edge of the window sash, the zone of engagement between the lower rail of the window sash and the one arm of the rack being between the vertical center of said sash and the other vertical edge thereof.

4. In a vertically slidable window sash, an L- shaped rack having an arm extending along one vertical rail of the sash and an arm extending along the lower rail of the sash, said arm along the lower rail being offset to engage the bottom of the lower rail between the vertical center thereof and the other vertical rail of the sash.

5. In a window structure of the character described having a frame including a jamb and a stop in abutting relation and provided with a compartment therein, a window sash slidably mounted in the frame for vertical movement having one edge thereof within said compartment in the plane of the abutting edges of the jamb and said stop, a rack along the said one edge of the sash, a pinion, a shaft rotatably supporting the pinion in mesh with the rack, and a bearing frame journalling the shaft mounted in the compartment of the frame; a fiat relatively short plate opposite the pinion having a portion thereof projecting into the compartment of the frame and a portion thereof between the stop and said jamb; securing members extending through the stop, said plate, the jamb and into said bearing frame to hold said parts in the operative position; and a guide channel on the said one edge of the sash co-extensive in length with the rack and embracing that portion of the plate projecting into the compartment.

6. In a window structure of the character described having a frame, a sash slidably mounted in the frame for vertical movement, a rack along one vertical edge of the sash, a pinion, a shaft rotatably supporting the pinion in mesh with the rack, and a bearing frame journalling the shaft, whereby upon rotation of the shaft movement is imparted to the rack and said sash; a fiat relatively short plate mounted on the window frame to one side and opposite the pinion; a guide member on the sash along the edge thereof, coextensive with the rack and overlapping said plate between the plate and said pinion to preclude movement of the rack from the pinion as the rack is moved thereby; and screws extending through parts of the frame, the relatively short plate and into the bearing frame to hold the same in operative position.

FRANK J. MOSS. 

